Ekpa’s arrest has reduced insecurity in S’East – Christopher Musa

General Christopher Musa, Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, has said the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile, has reduced the insecurity across the South-East region.

He said this while speaking on Tuesday during his appearance before the House Committee on Defence to defend the 2025 defence budget proposal.

Mr. Musa noted that the launch of Operation Udoka by the Defence Headquarters has also played a major role in restoring peace to the troubled region.

“Operation Udoka,” launched in the third quarter of 2024, is a military action aimed at rooting out banditry and ending the persistent sit-at-home orders in Igboland, which have crippled economic and social activities in the area.

Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish authorities for his violent and inciting campaigns on social media and radio.

General Musa said, “With the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the tension in the South-East has greatly reduced. Also with Operation Udoka, we’re picking up most of the leadership of these groups, taking them out and making sure that the place is peaceful.

“The sit-at-home on Mondays is gradually diminishing. We’re also working with the political leaders there because we understand, like I always say that we need local support because without it, it’s difficult. You know, the terrain is very challenging, so we need to work together. It is improving.”

He also pledged the continuous deployment of non-kinetic approaches to tackling the insecurity challenges in the region.

“We had some intelligence and worked ahead to ensure that everywhere during the last holidays was kept peaceful. That has happened and we intend to do that and continue to do more. What we try to encourage is synergy in our operations.

“And like we always appeal, Nigerians must take ownership of their armed forces, they have to take ownership of the security challenges we are facing. It’s not a challenge for the armed forces alone or security agencies, it’s everybody’s responsibility to do,” he added

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